Portland, ME Guide

[tehzachatak]

from Vermont to Portland
public transportation

i think you may be out of luck, buddy...

i know that's not what was meant, i just found it funny

 

[swivelhips1]

Yeah I quickly realized renting a car for one day is vastly preferable to busing down to Boston then training up to Portland.

 

[Unbreakabolt]

My significant other and I will be heading down to Maine after a VT> Montreal run in early august and we're looking for suggestions on where we should be looking for lodging. We'd like to do at least one day near Acadia National park and are coming from Montreal. We're very open to suggestion and are mainly looking to put our feet up by the shore, drink beer, eat lobster and relax. We'll be out there 8/7-9 and will probably stay in Portland the 9th.

 

[JBP]

zzzooommmgggg

 

[tehzachatak]

zzzooommmgggg

Just came here to post this too. I firmed up a lot when I saw this post.

Also on the subject of Oxbow, a few notes...

• '14 Arboreal is kicking ass right now. Carb is going, but everything else is freakin' fantastic.
• Momoko remains killer. I had one that wasn't great with Ataraxia a couple months ago and was scared that it was already falling off, but I think it was a bad bottle because I had another one last week and it was A+.
• Batch 2 La Griseta is unreal. The first batch was maybe my favorite beer I've had in the past couple years outside of Le Sarrasin, and I think Batch 2 is actually better out the gate. Glad it came out because I'm down to only 1 batch 1 left.

 

[JBP]

Just came here to post this too. I firmed up a lot when I saw this post.

Also on the subject of Oxbow, a few notes...

• '14 Arboreal is kicking ass right now. Carb is going, but everything else is freakin' fantastic.
• Momoko remains killer. I had one that wasn't great with Ataraxia a couple months ago and was scared that it was already falling off, but I think it was a bad bottle because I had another one last week and it was A+.
• Batch 2 La Griseta is unreal. The first batch was maybe my favorite beer I've had in the past couple years outside of Le Sarrasin, and I think Batch 2 is actually better out the gate. Glad it came out because I'm down to only 1 batch 1 left.

They have been firing on all cylinders for the past year+ and only seem to be getting better and better.

 

[tehzachatak]

They have been firing on all cylinders for the past year+ and only seem to be getting better and better.

Seriously. I don't remember the last time I had an Oxbow beer I didn't like. I never wrote a review of it because I was pretty fried off Flora variants when I had it, but Kuaska was absolutely exceptional too. I picked up a bunch of bottles this weekend and will revisit that one sometime this week..

 

[Auror]

Seriously. I don't remember the last time I had an Oxbow beer I didn't like. I never wrote a review of it because I was pretty fried off Flora variants when I had it, but Kuaska was absolutely exceptional too. I picked up a bunch of bottles this weekend and will revisit that one sometime this week..

You try Saison Dell'Aragosta?

 

[tehzachatak]

You try Saison Dell'Aragosta?

Haven't opened a batch 2 yet, but batch 1 was really good a week ago. Much better than release.

 

[kfernandez3]

You try Saison Dell'Aragosta?

Sadly I had to forgo that one. I have a feeling it might taste like anaphylaxis to me.

 

[woody1180]

Heading to Portland on Friday to visit parents who will be in Portland with my wife and 6 month old. I think we will do the Allagash area Friday around 2 but any good suggestions for that group to grab a bite that wont be too crazy with after work crowd around 4 or 5? We are staying near downtown and will have a car and my daughter is well behaved. Forecast doesnt look great either (PM thunderstorms) so we might avoid being outside. Cheers

 

[tehzachatak]

I think, no lie, I'm enjoying the Oxbow house character/terroir/whatever you want to call it more than even HF right now (probably because I've just had so much HF I'm burnt out on it, but whatever). Drinking a Kuaska right now... god damn this beer is amazing

 

[JBP]

I think, no lie, I'm enjoying the Oxbow house character/terroir/whatever you want to call it more than even HF right now (probably because I've just had so much HF I'm burnt out on it, but whatever). Drinking a Kuaska right now... god damn this beer is amazing

Kuaska is a great nuanced beer.

Bafpa batch 10 is also out of this world right now.

 

[janeinma]

Oxbow is releasing Synthesis 2016 on Thursday. Their Flanders red, should be a great beer.

 

[kfernandez3]

Oxbow is releasing Synthesis 2016 on Thursday. Their Flanders red, should be a great beer.

That label makes me dizzy

 

[JBP]

Interesting they are specifically calling it a Flanders style this time, b1 seemed to be more of a various barrel blend a la Civil Disobedience method. B1 Synth is my all time favorite Oxbow beer so very interested in this.

 

[tehzachatak]

Oxbow is releasing Synthesis 2016 on Thursday. Their Flanders red, should be a great beer.

*one of their umpteen flanders reds

Interesting they are specifically calling it a Flanders style this time, b1 seemed to be more of a various barrel blend a la Civil Disobedience method. B1 Synth is my all time favorite Oxbow beer so very interested in this.

yeah, i have found their use of the "flanders" style name to be a little weird. i actually generally strongly dislike Flanders red/brown style beers, which to me are universally characterized by some acetic acid presence. Oxbow's don't taste like that, so...

 

[KevinC1]

*one of their umpteen flanders reds



yeah, i have found their use of the "flanders" style name to be a little weird. i actually generally strongly dislike Flanders red/brown style beers, which to me are universally characterized by some acetic acid presence. Oxbow's don't taste like that, so...

The variety of descriptions they use to describe them makes me believe that none of them really are Flanders style, but damn if they don't sound great.

Also: agree with you about their house strain. It's incredible and getting better.

 

[brokensail1]

Synthesis sounds pretty good. Do those types of beers sell out quickly or is there a chance I could get any of it when my girlfriend and I are in town in two weeks? I think she'd probably enjoy it.

 

[tehzachatak]

Synthesis sounds pretty good. Do those types of beers sell out quickly or is there a chance I could get any of it when my girlfriend and I are in town in two weeks? I think she'd probably enjoy it.

Oxbow bottles have not been selling out quickly recently, so I think you'll probably be good.

 

[brokensail1]

Oxbow bottles have not been selling out quickly recently, so I think you'll probably be good.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[brokensail1]

Sorry guys, the obligatory question regarding can releases...

I was planning on going to Bissell Brothers on Saturday for cans and then probably head over to Foundation/Allagash/Austin Street. I'd like to try to get some cans from Foundation as well. Am I sort of relegated to choosing one or the other? Seems like if I get there at a reasonable time before Bissell Brothers opens I should be in and out relatively quickly.

In any event, very excited to visit Maine (and Portland in particular). Apologies in advance for making no effort to meet up with anyone. While beer stuff will happen, it's not really a beer trip.

 

[tehzachatak]

Sorry guys, the obligatory question regarding can releases...

I was planning on going to Bissell Brothers on Saturday for cans and then probably head over to Foundation/Allagash/Austin Street. I'd like to try to get some cans from Foundation as well. Am I sort of relegated to choosing one or the other? Seems like if I get there at a reasonable time before Bissell Brothers opens I should be in and out relatively quickly.

In any event, very excited to visit Maine (and Portland in particular). Apologies in advance for making no effort to meet up with anyone. While beer stuff will happen, it's not really a beer trip.

No clue how this works these days so can't help you there, but if you're around Portland for the weekend, Bier Cellar is a great beer store that may get Bissell cans also if you pay attention on social media, so you could also try getting Foundation cans and Bissell cans from Bier Cellar later if Bissell sells out?

 

[McGrupp612]

Anyone going to Freeport tonight for the Dinner Release?

 

[JBP]

Anyone going to Freeport tonight for the Dinner Release?

lol

 

[tylerk88]

Oxbow is my favorite ME brewery (and the competition is tough), but I was underwhelmed by the last two beers I've had from them. Had a draught pour of Crossfade at Novare that smelled great but was thin and overall lacking, and had Synthesis at the brewery which both the GF and I found one-note and on the vinegary side of sour. I've got a growler of FPA that I'm excited to crack, as I've always been fond of that one.

We did, however, have a nice time at the brewery. Picked up one of Keith Shore's prints and was pleasantly surprised to see this on the menu:

 

[Don2]

Speaking of oxbow, when do they normally release goods from the woods info?

 

[tehzachatak]

Speaking of oxbow, when do they normally release goods from the woods info?

They already did: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/goods-from-the-woods-2016-tickets-26058487638

 

[Don2]

They already did: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/goods-from-the-woods-2016-tickets-26058487638

See this is what happens when you move and I don't have anyone to feed me Maine info

 

[tehzachatak]

See this is what happens when you move and I don't have anyone to feed me Maine info